Hidden truths, as in Robert Zemeckis’ film. Silent and never underlined. Or just those of Matteo Petrini, Fratelli d’Italia’s candidate for mayor in Capannori until around mid-March and then, a long limbo, an infinite wait that led him to give up. From there the convergence on Rontani. He has never spoken and in this climate of showdown, of all against all in the Capannori centre-right, his version of him is interesting. He waited for the end of the electoral campaign and, once the polls were over, he removed a few pebbles from his shoes.
After Remo Santini was sought to run for mayor, didn’t you feel uncomfortable? Why didn’t he intervene at the time?
“The reality of the facts is different, since February 2023 I was the candidate and you wrote it, there was the agreement, the famous document with the five names: two from Forza Italia (Scannerini and Lazzareschi), two from the League, (Spadaro and Caruso) and only me for FdI, the first party, which had the power of choice. The path was clear. It was Forza Italia that didn’t believe in me and went looking, together with others, for Remo Santini, a very authoritative figure. , but also others. My party, if anything, has failed to impose itself, at all levels, in banging its fists on the table to defend my candidacy.”
You were the agreed candidate until March 5th, then what happened?
“In words and in person, everyone made me believe I was the best, the number one, they exclaimed, but it wasn’t possible to square the circle. This was because in reality the coalition was taking its time. Just think that the agreement was to close for Christmas, or in any case since January 7th. I read the statements of Scannerini who speaks of FdI’s hesitations as the cause of the defeat. But FDI was decided on the name of the candidate, mine, because Forza Italia did not accept it, as it did the League?”.
There has been the resignation of the Capannori municipal coordinator of your party, will others follow?
“Nice gesture by Ricci, my party has certainly made a lot of mistakes and when it makes mistakes we must draw the consequences, but I don’t think others will leave.”
There are those who hypothesize that it was a preordained scheme, to associate with a civic body and remain unscathed in the event of electoral defeat, Rontani lost the series, not the parties, what do you think?
“These are bar discussions, there had already been contacts with Rontani in the autumn, but if anything we wanted to test the waters so that he could converge with us, bringing the tank of the civic and moderate vote. Then myself, given that it was now upon me there was this internal ostracism, I suggested taking into consideration the fact that he had already started the campaign”.
What do you think of Riccardo Giannoni, who is rather criticized by his party colleagues?
“Riccardo is the provincial coordinator, I don’t think he is exempt from responsibility but if I thought badly of him I would have left the party. I respect him on a human level, his role was not easy”.
Was he re-elected anyway, satisfied?
“With an electoral campaign at its lowest terms and having everyone against me, I’m happy. Before I was alone, now there are 4 of us in FDI, we have to overcome divisions and possible conflicts for the good of Capannori”.
